Investments make Goodyear first choice for high-end vehicles internationally

The multi-million rand investments poured into Goodyear's Uitenhage manufacturing facility have enabled it to produce premium tyre products that are being snapped up by motor manufacturers as original equipment (OE) choice on vehicles for both local and export markets.

High performance Goodyear tyres the choice for slick BMW X1

Joy in motion is how BMW describes its luxurious little X1 - BMW's first 'baby' sport utility vehicle (SUV) - and the journey is made even sweeter with Goodyear Efficient Grip tyres selected as the tyre of choice for the new compact driving machine.

Goodyear South Africa Marketing Director Dustine Gascoyne said: "As an organisation, we are targeting the top echelon of SUVs and performance vehicles with premier-branded Goodyear products."

The premium compact X-model, with its sporty, elegant silhouette, boasts smooth six-cylinder power and an intelligent all-wheel drive system.

"Besides providing a high performance tyre, we want to provide drivers with complete peace of mind when it comes to safety. That's whay we're extremely proud to be the world's leading manufacturer of the innovative safety technology known as RunOnFlat, which allows a driver to continue on a journey with a punctured tyre. Who needs the inconvenience of changing a flat tyre when you're testing the limits of the X1 far off the beaten track?"

Adding to drivers' peace of mind are the environmentally-friendly FuelSaving Technologies that have shaped the new Goodyear EfficientGrip tyre, which is now available in South Africa. With extremely low rolling resistance, the ultra-high performance tyre delivers important fuel savings, while offering high mileage and excellent braking performance levels - on dry and wet roads.

In fact, independent performance tests run by German TUF SUD Automotive, one of Europe's leading testing and certification organisations, have proved that the new Goodyear EfficientGrip provides 13% better rolling resistance, 2% shorter braking distance and 1.9% better fuel consumption. What is more, long-term tread wear tests proved that cars equipped with the new tyres can drive up to 8% more kilometres on the driven axel and 49% more on the free axel.

But beyond its fuel consumption benefits, the EfficientGrip also offers additional environmental improvements. Its silica tread compound uses the latest generation of polymers and, in line with the European legislation, does not contain any high aromatic oils. The result is a tyre that is 10% lighter than its predecessor. With less material used, carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced during production. What is more, the reduction in material, coupled with the fact that fewer tyres are needed to achieve a given mileage, ultimately leads to less material to be recycled at the end of the tyre's life.

Another environmental plus is that the EfficientGrip offers a quiet ride - it is seen to be very competitive on noise.

Goodyear tyres have been fitted as original equipment on many vehicles, including Audi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Hummer, Isuzu, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota.

Advanced Goodyear Tyres Selected for New BMW 5 Series

The joy that comes from driving BMW's super sexy new 5 series -described by its creators as "a new shape of beauty" - can only be magnified when it is discovered to be rolling on Goodyears. "If a vehicle doesn't look dynamic how are we supposed to believe that it drives dynamically? You have to be able to both see and feel its character. It is the same with talent; it's not enough to just have it, you have to be able to use it," is the philosophy of Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group design.

Birds of a feather flock together...Efficiency sophisticated driving dynamics, design, safety and comfort are all elements that BMW admire. The ultra high performance of such a finely tuned, technically advanced luxury sports sedan demands finely tuned, technically advanced tyres to respond to its quick demands and match its precision. Perhaps thats why engineers at BMW selected Goodyear Excellence and Goodyear Eagle LS2 tyres to be originally fitted to their highly desirable 5 series.

"Revolutionary Excellence incorporates the best of three technologies into a single tyre. It offers the safest possible drive, with superb performance in handling, and an exceptional feeling of comfort. What's more, the RunOnFlat technology, which was pioneered by Goodyear and allows motorists to keep driving smoothly after a puncture, is a safety feature considered essential peace-of-mind to any driver these days," said Dustine Gascoyne, Goodyear Marketing Director.

"Goodyear tyres are performing on some of the world's leading cars. We are always delighted with these partnerships. Starting at the extensive testing conducted by vehicle manufacturers like BMW, prior to selection, serves as a benchmark for the innovative engineering and quality of our products.

"Sometimes starting even at the early stages of new vehicle model creation, goodyear works together with car manufacturers to drive technology innovation. Performance, safety, economy and environmental impact are all attributes that are continually being pushed to the next level."

Goodyear tyres are chosen for high performance vehicles from BMW, Mercedes, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Volkswagen, ...and many more.